Knitting machine and method for the production of nonrun fabric



April 16, 1935. G. GASTRICH KNITTING MACHINE ANDMETHOD FOR THE PRODUC TION OF NONRUN FABRIC Filed July 18, 1932 11 Sheets-Sheet l April 16, 1935. G. GASTRICH 1,998,364

KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF NONRUN FABRIC' Filed July 18, 1952 11 Sheets-Shet 2 Fl :5- Iian Q M W 2:: INVENTOR:

, qusm aasimfl,

A TTORNEY.

April s. GASTRICH 1,998,364

KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF N ONRUN FABRIC Filed July 18, 1952 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 l l M w g l l R g r g N Q a. 1 H g N g Q 1 R I g y :M'] Q I I "g E i-l IN V EN TOR:

ATTORNEY.

April 16, 1935.

G. GASTRI'CH KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF NONRUN FABRIC Filed July 18, 1932 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 F ELQ IN VEN TOR:

April 16, 1935. I Q GAs'rRIcH I 1,998,364

KNITTING "MACHINE AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF NONRUN FABRIC Filed July '18 19:52 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 1 1 [En-.1- U;

////z M4 M S JNVENTOR; q-zzsfiavqms'inak,

BY I

A TTORNEX 7 April 16, 1935.

G. GASTRICH 1,998,364

KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF NONRUN FABRIC Filed July 18. 1932 ll Sheets-Sheet 7 Need/e Cam IN V EN TOR.

Gus iwzigsb'ich BY 6? A:

ATTORNK April 16, 1935. 5. GASTRICH KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF NONRUN FABRIC Filed July 18, 1 932 11 sheets-sheet 8 111E Li.

M e 3 mm m. w I: nu mm m, 2 2m 2. 5 f B B a; m m 7 A wm m z v INVENTOR: Gzwl'avfiwsirick,

I ATTORNEY A ril 16, 1935. e. GASTRICH 1,998,364

KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF NONRUN FABRIC Filed July 18, 1932 11 Sheets-Sheet. 9

IINVENTOR: 08' iavgmsgi'fieh, BY C 44,4 ATTORNEX April 16, 1935. G. GASTRICH KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF NONRUN FABRIC Filed July 18, 1932 1.1 Sheets-Sheet 10 f1E- E FlG- E.E

IN V EN TOR A TTORNEYI Patented Apr. 16, 1935 UNITED STATES on non THE PRODUCTION or nonnmjv FABRIC Gustav cash-mi, Wyomissing,j-Pa., assignor to Textile Machine Works, wwinislinl, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 18, 1932, s nsin 23,206

20Claims. (cite -9a), r

c r This invention relates to a machine for producing a new type of fabric and relates more particularly to improved'mechanism for producinga knitted fabric having run proof features and has for its primary object the provision of novel types of mechanisms arranged in a novel association to enable the knitted fabric to be economically produced in a practical manner.

An object of the invention resides in redesign-' ing and associating component parts of a stocking knitting machine to enable the same to interlock the various loops of the stocking in the knitting thereof to prevent formation of runs,.accomplishing this desired objective in an economill cal manner'so as to enable the stocking to be manufactured at substantially minimum cost.

Another object of the invention resides in addingsimplified attachments to a full fashion hosiery knitting machine to enable the same to either-function to knit plain hcs'iery'or function to knit "non-run hosiery.

Another object of the invention resides in extending the point grooves of the needles beyond their normal lengths so that the point of engagement of the points with the shanks of the needles may be lowered upon the needle shanks.

so as to enable the proper interlocking of the beards of the needles with portions of the spread loops in accordance with the timed operations of the variousparts of the knitting machine.

A further object'of the invention resides in providing the needle shanks with extended grooves so that the points and needles may per-- form their'various cooperative operations in one horizontal lane-of operation to produce plain loops and capable of performing various coopera-- tive operations in an elevated horizontal plane of operation to enable the points and needles to the novel manner of relating the point mecha'-' nism, the needle mechanism and actuating mechanisms therefor, to enable the same to cofunc-w tion in proper time relations to first form courses of plain loops and thereafter spread and interlock selected loops with plain loops to prevent 5 the formation of runs.

. lock stitchattachment.

' Besidesthe. above my invention is distinguished in acombination of mechanisms that will enable. the knitting machine to function in the usual manner when narrowing, to function in the usual manner when knitting plain fabric and to func- 5 tion-in a slightly/different manner when knitting interlocking co urses to produce run proof hosiery; thereby enabling me to utilize the major portions. of well known types of knitting machinessnowon the market. 10.

My invention .is also distinguished in the use of, novel mechanisms for rendering the usual narrowing mechanism inactive atdesired points, in the use; of a novelsimplifled type of narrowing mechanism, in the use of a simplified type of con- 15 I trol mechanism for enabling the machine to be manually'changed in its operation to produce either "run proof fabric or plain fabric and furth'er'distinguished in the novel relation existing between the row of knitting needles and the 20 row of points in combination with novel cam mechanisms for operating the points and needles in proper relation, and at required time intervals. I

-With these and other objects in view the inven- 5 tion will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accom'pamring drawings; wherein:

Figure l is afront elevation of a Reading type offull fashion knitting machine showing my im- 3 proved attachments that are necessary to produce the non-run stocking. I

Figure 2 is an end elevation. v

Figure 3 is a top plan view.

Figure 4 is across sectional view. v 5

Figure -5 is a top plan view of a portion of the Figure 6 is a front elevation of a portion of the lock stitch mechanism.

Figures 7 and'8 are views of the cams used 4 with lock stitch mechanism.

Figure. 9 is a sectional view on the line B- v Figure 6.. a

Figure 10 is a sectional view on the line C-C, Figure:6.' Y

Figure 11';-is a top plan view' of a part of the narrowing: mechanism.

Figure '12 is asectional view on the line D-D, Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a detail view of parts of the regulating il'iechanism. 1 7 g Figure 14 is a'side elevation of'the. needle cam.- a

- Figure 15 is a. side elevation of' the point Figure 16 is a diagrammatic view of looped ative position of component parts when the points,

. are spreading loops from one needle to an adia cent needle. t

Figure 28 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the points about to enter plain loops.

Figure 29 is a diagrammatic view illustrating an intermediate step in spreading loops to adjacent needles.

Figure 30 is a diagrammatic view illustrating spread loops over two adjacent needles.

Figure 31 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the correlation between the point and needle, the latter provided with an extended groove.

Figure 32 is a diagrammatic view of one type of fabric produced on my machine.

Figure 33 is a diagrammatic view of another type of fabric produced on my machine.

Figure 34is a side elevation of the cams illustrated in Figure 13..

Referring to the drawings it will be noted that for the sake of clearness I have eliminated from the drawings detail parts of mechanisms that are utilized on the Reading type of machine, 11- lustrating only parts of various mechanisms necessary in the proper co-functioning of my ;im--

proved mechanisms for the production of the types of fabric shown in Figures 32 and 33. Therefore, my invention is illustrated and described basically as consisting of a frame A; a power mechanism B; a chain motion mechanism C; carrier motion mechanism D; a needle bar mechanism E; a regulating mechanism F; a sinker and divider mechanism G; and a lock stitch motion mechanism H.

Referring to Figures 32 and 33, it will be noted that the type of fabric produced on my machine consists of plain courses land interlocking courses 2 which in the particular showing alternate with each other but I wish it to be understood that any number of plain courses may succeed each other and any number of interlocking courses may succeed each other and in fact every course may be an interlocking course. The plain courses I are formed from plain loops 3 and the interlocking courses consist of alternate plain loops 4 and spread interlocking loops 5. In producing the interlocking loops, I first form a course of plain loops and then selected loops preferably alternate loops are each spread from the wale in which it originates to an adjacent wale n the same course and in the adjacent wale the bight 6- of the. spread loop engages unde'r'the needle loop and over the associated sinker loop so that the bight will be gripped between a needle wale loop and a sinker wale loop as clearly shown in Figure 32. In the spreading of the loops, I have found it an economical procedure to spread the loop from the needle originally forming the loop onto an adjacent needle and to accomplish this economically and practically I have designed the mechanism .which is the subject matter of the present application.

33 itwill benoted that the spread loops- 5B in the interlocking courses are spread "in opposite directions tofl'ialance the fabric.

Frame (A) The frame A is of the well known construction including the front and back'beams I and 8, front and centre beds 3 and I0 and erfd and centre frames II and I2.

Power mechanismiB) The power mechanism'B consists of the power shaft |3 associated with the shifting device I4 manipulated by the chain motion mechanism in amanner hereinafter described. Also connected to the power shaft I3 is the plain knitting needle cam l6, spread loop knitting cam l5. narrowing needle cam l1 and narrowing point cam I3 an a pattern cam l3.

This cam shaft is operated by a prime mover such as an electric motor through a suitable clutch connection well known in the art.

Chain motion mechanism (6').

The chain motion mechanism C consists preferably, as more clearly shown in Figure 11, of duplex pattern chains and 2|, the chain 20 determining the courses in which a narrowingoperation is to take place, and controlling the operation of the machine and the regular narrowing motion of the cam shaft l3 through actuation of the shifting device l4 in a manner well known in the trade, and simultaneously actuating the carrier motion mechanism D in the manner hereinafter described while chain 2| is specially provided to determine which courses shall be interlocking courses by causing shifting of the-shaft I3, without actuating the carrier motion mechanism D, at desired periods in the cycle of operation of the machine in the knitting of a run proof stocking. Ordinary. actuation of the narrowing and lock stitch motion mechanisms is accomplished in the usual manner, that is to say, by releasing latch arm 22 to project stud shaft roller 23 into operative engagement with the shifting device ll previously described,

'such movement providing for two dips at each cam shaft rotation. The pattern chain 2| is mounted on an-extension of the usualpattern drum axle of chain 20 and preferably rotated independently of said main pattern chain as by its" owngear pawl 24 and a lever 25 operatively connected thereto and actuated by a suitable cam 28 on shaft l3. The pattern chain 2| is shown as traveling around power drum 2'! and an idle drum 21a with suitable buttons 29 thereon adapted to lift latch arm 22 to effect shifting of cam shaft for loop spreading as required.

, In order that the special pattern chain 2| may effect shifting of the narrowing cam shaft without causing operation of the narrowing attachments of the machine as hereinafter described, arm 22 is shown with, a projection 30 actuated only by a button'operating lifting lever 3| overhanging pattern chain 2|, buttons on said chain holding said arm raised to cause shifting 'of the, cam shaft whenever required. I

Copivotally mounted witharm 22 is a lever 32 operated by a button on the pattern-chain 20. This lever 32 is-connected by a rod 33 with a latch 34 controlling the dropping of the roller 35 into operative engagement with a'face' cam 36 mounted on the main cham shaft l3.

The roller 35 is carried on a swinging extension 36a of a central pivoted lever 31 that has a rod connection 33 with one end of the centrally pivoted lever 39- which -slidably controls the positioning of the roller ll relative to the cam 1a. This roller 40 is supported on a lift lever 4|, that controls the operation of the narrowing attachment of the carrier motion mechanism.

Carrier motion mechanism (D) The carrier motion mechanism D, has been dev rowing of the stocking leg blank, the narrowing devices or points being rendered inoperative in this particular case although I wish it to be understood that the narrowing points may be set in operation if so desired. The carrier motion mechanism or attachment designated in its entirety by the letter D and including the lever 4| consists of a ratchet device 42 operatively associated with the usual ratchets 43 and 44 mounted on the narrowing spindle 45 and yarn carrier spindle 46. These spindles and associated parts are of the usual construction to variably move the narrowing combs or points 41 of each knitting section towards and away from each other and to vary the travel of the carrier rods 48 which support the yarn carrier 49 in the usual manner. To enable the spindles 45 and 46 to be selectively thrown into connection with the ratchet device 42 the pawls 50 and 5| are pivotally mounted to be manually thrown into operative engagement with the ratchet wheels 43 and 44 by the manipulation of knobs 52. appreciated that by throwing both pawls out of operation both spindles are rendered inactive andby throwing the pawl 50 into engagement with the ratchet 44 the carrier spindle 46 will be rendered operative while the spindle 45 remains inactive, due to the fact. that the pawl 5| is moved out of engagement with the ratchet 43. This action renders the narrowing mechanism inactive including the combs 41 but allows varying movements of the carrier rods 48 to vary the distance of travel of the thread carriers 49 to vary the number of needles engaged by, the thread and thereby the width of the fabric being knitted.

Needle tar motion mechanism (E) As above stated the needle bar motion mechanis m is constructed along lines identical with the type of needle bar motion mechanism now used with the exception that the shape of the needles to properly function to produce the proper lock stitch for the run proof fabric and further to enable the row of needles 53 to function to knit entirely plain fabric or function to knit entirely run proof fabric or a combination of the two.

As shown in Figures 13, 14 and 34, the needle cams have a narrowing cam path 51, a plain knitting cam path 58 and a lock stitch knitting cam path 59. In Figure 14 I have shown the general Thus, it will be outline of the needle cam which will be described more in detail later, but at this point I wish to state that the cam surfaces or paths 51 and 59 are substantially identical with the exception that one is slightly higher than the other to enable variations in the final elevated positions of the needles to enable the sameto better function in the production of a non-run fabric and in the production of plain fabric.

In Figure 16 it will be noted that alternate needles of the row 53 support a plain loop 3 and 'a pair of companion needles support there around spread loops 5 as described in relation to Figures 32 and 33.

The cam pathsof the needle cams are such as to enable the needles to properly cofunction with the lock stitch attachment hereafter described to enable the proper spreading of interlocking loops from one needle to an adjacent needle.

I Regulating mechanism (F) anisms and devices that may accomplish this desired objective and which is within the scope of my invention but for the purpose of illustration I have shown an ordinary pivotal lever 60 manually operated and connected to a control rod 6| that has a fork 62 for shifting an extra roller 63 carried by the needle arm 64 into selective engagement with the cam face of high elevation to enable the needle mechanism to function in the knitting of plain fabric. The usual roller 65 carried by the arm 54 functions with the cam face of lowest elevation to operate the needles in their highest elevated position for the production of the non-run fabric in a manner more specifically set forth later. Sinker and divider operating mechanism (G) The sinker and divider mechanism is of the usual construction consisting basically of the sinkers 66 and dividers 61 operated by the operating mechanism 68. Of course, it is to be understood that the sinkers and dividers operate in proper time relation to enable the needles to properly form loops and cofunction with the lock stitch attachment hereinafter described to spread loops over two adjacent needles.

Lock stitch motion mechanism (H) The lock stitch motion mechanism is a very important feature of my invention and involves novel types of devices cofunctioning with the mechanisms herein described to pick loops from selected needles and spread the same over adjacent needles to produce interlocking loops alternating in positions in succeeding courses over the entire area of the fabric to enable the same to possess "non-run characteristics. The lock stitch motionmechanism broadly includes parts of the usual narrowing mechanism of the full fashion knitting machine including the rear narrowing shaft 69, front narrowing shaft 10 and lifting arms 1| for rocking the frame 12 of the narrowing mechanism around the shaft 69 in the usual manner, the arms 1| being pivotally connected to the levers 13, carrying rollers 14 cofunctioning with the cams l8 on the main cam and will be described indetail when setting forth the operation of the mechanisms. The row of points 15 are mounted on a bar I8 attached to a shiftable rod 11 directly carried by the front narrowing shaft 10. This rod 11 carries a collar 18 engageable with one end of a centrally pivoted lever 18, the other end of which carries a roller 80 adapted to be selectively brought into engagement with either of two pattern cam discs or sections 8| and 82.

Referring to Figures 7 and 8, it will be noted that cam disc 8| is provided upon its periphery with alternate depressions 83 and projections 84 of a predetermined size and relation to enable the proper shifting of rod 11 to spread loops onto adjacent pairs of needles and alternate the posi tions of the spread loops in succeeding courses as shown in Figure 32, whereas in Figure 8 the depressions 85 and projections. 86 are in a different relation to spread the loops alternately in opposite directions as shown in Figure 33. For the purpose of selectively moving the roller 88 into engagement with the discs 8| and 82, I have shown the roller 80 slidably mounted on an axle 81 and engaged by the walls of a recess 88 in a 'slidable pin 89 which in turn is manipulated by a shiftable handle 9|]. As the lever 19 is utilized to force the rod 11 to the left as shown in Figure 1, I provide an additional lever 9| to shift the rod TI to the right and to accomplish this the lever 9| is directly pivoted to the front narrowing shaft and arranged to have one end engage a collar 92 fixed to the rod TI and its other end connected to a spring 93 functioning to throw the lever in a direction to force the rod 11 to the right as shown in Figure 1. Thus, it will be appreciated, that as the projection engages the lever 19 the rod 1'! will be forced to the left and when the lever 19 engages a recess of the cam 8| will force the rod 11 to the right thereby reciprocating the row of points back and forth relative to the row of needles 53. As the projections and recesses are arranged in sets at different distances from the centre of the disc, it will be understood that the rod 11 is shifted into two different positions by the projections and into two different positions by the recesses to accommodate the staggered arrangement of the spread loops in alternating courses.

For-the purpose of manipulating the discs 8| and 82 in time relation to the various operations of the knitting machine, I have shown a. ratchet wheel 94 arranged in fixed relation to the discs 8| and 82 and mounted on the stud shaft 95, connectedto a bracket 96 fixed to the-front narrowing shaft of the narrowing mechanism to dip therewith. This ratchet-wheel 84 is manipulated by a pawl 91 pivoted to an arm 98 swingingly mounted on the stub shaft 95. The arm 98 is held in a retracted position by a spring 99 and forced in the opposite direction by engagement with one arm 100 of a pivoted bell crank lever lfll which has its other arm I82 provided with a pin I03, arranged in the path of travel of a second pin I04 carried by a toggle link connection I pivotally mounted on the rear narrowing shaft 89 and including a rod |86 connected to a pivotal lever I01 carrying a roller I08 engageable with the pattern cam I9.

Operation Referring to Figures 20 to 27 inclusive, I have illustrated in a more ,or less diagrammatic manner the relative movement of a single point III! of the row of points and a single needle I of the row of needles for the spreading of a loop onto two adiacent needles. In Figures 28 to 30 I have shown in a more or less diagrammatic manner the relative change in position of the point H0 and needle II I to produce an elongation of selected loops and the spreading of the same into position to engage pairs of companion needles to enable the spread loops to interlock with plain loops in the fabric.

In Figure 31, I have shown the needle I provided with a slightly elongated groove 2, that is to say, this groove extends down the shank of the needle slightly deeper than the customary groove in an ordinary needle so that the point I It) may travel down the needle a greater distance to enable a better engagement with the loop and a relative time operatio'nbetween the needle and point to enable the spread loop to engage under the beard of its needle in'a manner now to be described.

In Figure 28 I have illustrated the points 0 descending into position to engage selected loops, preferably alternate loops and in Figure 29 I have illustrated the points traveling from the needles to enlarge the selected loops and move the same into position over the associated plain loops so that in the rising of the needles as shown in Figure 30, the latter will pass through the plain loops and the spread loops to receive a new thread and draw the same through the plain loops and spread loops to interengage a plain course with the interlocking course. In the operation of the machine theneedles l are elevated to a slightly higher position than that usually occupied by the needles in plain knitting so that a greater engagement may be obtained between the points and the selected loops and the time interval of operation between the needles and points varied to enable one limb of each selected loop to be caught under the beard of its needle to provent displacement of the loop when this particular needle passes by the knockover bits.

In the knitting of plain. fabric, it is not necessary for the needles I to move this extra high elevation as the loops of the plain fabric are all cast off simultaneously.

Referring to Figures 20 to 27, Figure 20 illustrates the point I In in the beginning of its descent whereas Figure 21 shows an intermediate position of the point and Figure 22 shows engagement of the point with the beard of the needle. In Figure 23 I have shown the point pressing the beard of the needle and engaging the loop on the shank thereof, whereas in Figure 24 I have shown the point moving from the needle to elongate the loop so as to be spread by a lateral movement ofthe point as shown in Figure 25. In Figure 26 I have shown the point again slightly moved downwardly to engage the beard of the adjacent needle with the spread looppositioned to allow said needle to pass upwardly through the spread loop. In this particular figure, I have shown the loop engaging under the beard of one needle, the adjacent needle that is toopass through the loop being positioned on the opposite side of this particular needle.

'In Figure 27 I have shown the point raised to its elevated position after the spreading of the loop around two adjacent needles. The needles are now in position to receive another thread to be drawn through the spread ard plain loops'of the interlocking course to form a plain course.

In Figure 14 I have designated by the numerals 2018 to 21B inclusive, the various cam portions of the needle cam that cofunctions with the needle mechanism to produce the required movements of the row of needles relative to the row of points as shown Figures 20 to 27. In Figure 15 I have designated by the numerals 2013 to 213 in- 203 to 213 the various positions in the travel of the needle corresponding to the positions of the needles as indicated in Figures 20 to 27 inclusive. In Figures 18 and 19 I have indicated by the numerals 203 to 213 the various positions of the point corresponding to the positions shown in Figures 20 to 27.

When a narrowing operation is to be performed,

in either a lock stitch course or in the knitting of plain fabric, the pattern chain motion functions to shift the shaft l3 through the manipulation of the shifting device l4 and simultaneously with this action the roller 35 is dropped into operative engagement with the cam face of the cam 36 so that the lever 31 will be swung about its pivot for sliding the rod 38 to thereby manipulate the lever 39 to shift the roller 40 (to the left as viewed in Fig. 1) into cooperative relation with the narrowing head cam Ia, as shown in Fig. 11, and thus actuate the narrowing motion mechanism D, but when no narrowing operation is to be performed, the roller 40 is not shifted into cooperative relation with the cam la, since at this time there is no actuating button on the pattern chain 20 in position to operate the lever 32, and therefore no movement is imparted to the narrowing motion mechanism. I 4

Rotation of shaft I 3 in a shifted position brings the cams l8 into operative engagement with the rollers 14 of levers 13 to create a clipping operation-of the frame 12 to bring the row of points 15 into cooperative relation with the row of needles 53 to enable the points Ilfl to engage loops as shown in Figures 20 to 24 and slidablyelongate the same.

Further movement of the machine causes the lock stitch motion mechanism to function to slide the rod 11 to spread the loops in time relation to the travel of the needles to enable one limb of each spread loop to engage under the beard of its needle and to engage around the shank of an adjacent needle.

It will be noted in referring to Figures 23 to that when the loop is being elongated and spread the sinkers and dividers have been retracted to prevent interference thereof with the points in the lateral shifting thereof. It is, of course, to be understood that the cam surface of the pattern cam disc is such as to twice change the normal position of the shaft 11 for a subsequent shift thereof tov accommodate the alternate positions of the spread loops walewise of the fabric as clearly shown in Figures 32 and 33. As hereinbefore stated, pattern cam l9 manipulates lever III! for operation of the toggle connection I05 for actuation of the ratchet 94 for allowing the rod 11 to return to its normal position after having been projected to its abnormal position by engagement of roller 80 with a projection 84.

As hereinbefore stated the row of needles is elevated to an increased height when functioning for the production of non-run" fabric, and to return the needles to a normal operating field when knitting plain fabric, it is necessary to manipulate lever 60 for sliding roller 63 into engagement with its proper cam surface as herein stated.

The main pattern chain functions in the ordinarymanner for timing the shifting the shaft I3 for ordinary narrowing and in ordinary narrowing the roller 40 is shifted into the path of travel of cam la thereby setting into operation the ratchet device 42 for manipulating spindles 45 and 46. When the yarn carriers are to be controlled in their travel for narrowing the stocking blank without resorting to the operation of the narrowing combs 41 the pawl 5| is thrown out of active position and pawl 50 actively engaged with its associated ratchet 44. In the functioning of the chain motion mechanism under these conditions, the levers 31 and 39 will be actuated thereby'enabling the cam II to engage the roller 40 in the shifting of the shaft l3. Thus, it will be appreciated that in knitting full length courses in the stocking blank only the mechanism for the forming of plain loops and the lock stitch motion mechanism is operated but when the width of the stocking blank is to be narrowed the ratchet device is set into operation for manipulation only 'of the spindle mechanism for controlling the extentof travel of the carriers thereby varying the width of the stocking blank by varying the distance of travel of the thread engaging the knitting needles. V

In concluding, I wish to state that I use the word"spread as applied to loops throughout the specification as meaning a loop that extends from the needle creating the loop to another needle in the row of needles in counter distinction to a transfer loop which is transferred bodily from one needle and positioned bodily upon an adjacent needle. The spread type of loop herein referred to has all desired non-run characteristics whereas the transfer loop does not possess all desired non-run characteristics.

In the specification and claims, the terms final elevated positions of the needles and final extent of elevation of the needles refer to the positions of the needles during the times that the points are in engagement therewith for transferring, extending, spreading or otherwise at:- fecting selected needle loops.

Of course, the improvements specifically shown and described, by which I obtain the above results, can be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the scope of the invention herein disclosed and hereinafter claimed.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In the art of knitting barrier stitches in a fabric on a full fashioned knitting machine having a series of spring beard needles and a series of points cooperatively associated therewith, the method which comprises forming loops in a course composed of alternate sinker and needle loops with needles in said needle loops, relatively moving said needles and points to 'cause the points to enter the grooves of the needles and inserting the points into selected needle loops, elevating said needles to a position higher than that employed for narrowing or other loop transfer operations, laterally shifting said points and the bight portions of the needle loops carried thereby into position to be engaged by needles 'in adjacent wales of the fabric while maintaining said needles in said higher position, and delivering the bight portions of said loops onto the last named needles by vertically moving said needles and points relative to each other..

2. In the art of knitting barrier stitches in a fabric on a full fashioned knitting machine having a series of spring beard needles and a series of points cooperatively associated therewith, the

method which comprises forming loops inacourse composed of alternate sinker and needle loops with needles in said needle loops, causing the points to enter the grooves of selected needles for engagement with needle loops thereon, causing relative sliding movement between the needles and points of substantially greater extent than that required for narrowing or other loop transfer operations while the points are engaged in the needle grooves, laterally shifting said points and the bight portions of the needle loops carried thereby into position to be engaged by needles in adjacent wales of the fabric, and delivering the bight portions of said loops onto the last named.

needles by vertically moving said needles and points relative to each other. 3. In a full fashion knitting machine the combination of a row of points and a row of needles having point grooves that are longer than that required for plain knitting, mechanism for causing said points to engage selected needles to coact with loops on said needles, and mechanism for selectively elevating said needles to either their normal elevated position or to a position above said normal position to thereby variably control the final point of contact of said points with said needles when forming a course of loops. 4. A straight knitting machine comprising series of cooperative spring-beard needles and points, means for forminga course of sinker and needle loops, means for causing the points to enter the grooves of selected needles to engage loops thereon, means for causing between the needles and the points a sliding relative movement substantially greater than required by narrowing and other loop transfer operations while the points engage the needles in the grooves, means for laterally shifting the points and bights thereon to position for engagement by needles of adjacent wales, and means for delivering the bights to the adjacent-Wale needles including means for moving the needles and the points vertically relative to each other.

5. In a full fashion knitting machine, a row of knitting needles having point grooves longer than that required for plain knitting, a row of points, mechanism for causing said points to engage in the grooves of selected needles to coact with loops on said needles, and mechanism for relatively operating said points and needles either to cause a predetermined downward extent of travel of said points in said needle grooves for the production of plain knit fabric or to increase the said downward extent of travel of the points in the needle grooves thereby to produce special loop fabrics.

6. A straight knitting machine for producing barrier stitches in a fabric, comprising the combination of a series of spring beard needles and a series of points cooperatively associated therewith, means for forming a course composed of alternate sinker and needle loops with needles in said needle loops, means for causing the points to enter the grooves of selected needles for engagement with the needle loops thereon, means for causing a relative sliding movement between the needles and points of substantially greater extent than that required by narrowing or other loop transfer operations while the points are engaged in the needle grooves, means for laterally shifting said points and the bight portions of the needle loops carried thereby'into position to be engaged by needles in adjacent wales of the fabric, and means for delivering the bight portions of said loops onto the last named needles comprising means for vertically moving said needles and points relative to each other.

'7. In a full fashioned knitting machine, a needle bar having thereon a row of needles provided with point grooves that are longer than that required for plain knitting, sinkers and dividers associated with said needles; means to operate said needles, sinkers and dividers; a row of locking points paralleling said row of needles and adapted to have relative movements in the grooves of said needles to coact with loops on selected needles; and means for manipulating said needles to selectively elevate the needles to different heights, and thereby vary the final distance of travel of the points in said point grooves, for the production of plain knit and special loop fabrics, respectively.

8. A full fashioned knitting machine,-for producing plain and interlocking loops, comprising needles having point-receiving grooves extended to render them longer than, required for producing plain loops, points for engaging the needles in the grooves, mechanism for operating the points, mechanism for operating the needles, and means cooperating with the point-operating mechanism for selectively controlling the elevation of the needles to control movement of the points in the extended groove portions.

9. In a knitting machine, the combination of a row of points, a row of needles having point grooves that are longer than that required for plain knitting, mechanism for causing said points to engage selected needles to coact with loops on said needles, and mechanism for selectively elevating said needles to normal elevated positions for forming plain loops or elevating said needles to other elevated positions above said normal positions in contact with said row of points in forming spread loops carried by said points and then moving said points away from said needles whereby the beards of the needles in their downward movements will interlock with portions of the spread loops supported by said points.

10. In a full fashion knitting machine for producing a run proof fabric, a row of knitting needles having point grooves longer than that required for plain knitting, a row of points cooperating with said'needles and adapted to periodically engage in said grooves, mechanism for manipulating said points, mechanism for manipulating said needles and means cooperating with said second mechanism to selectively control the final extent of elevation of the needles and thereby the final distance of travel of the points in said grooves.

11. In a full fashion knitting machine, a row of knitting needles having point grooves that are longer than that required for plain knitting, a row of points coacting with said needles, mechanism for vertically reciprocating said points, mechanism for variably elevating said needles to variably control the final positioning of the points in the grooves of the needles and a manually controlled device for controlling the action of said second mechanism to variably control the final elevated positions of said needles.

12. In a full fashion, knitting machine, a row of needles, having point grooves that are longer than that required for plain knitting, a row of points associated therewith, mechanism for giving a fixed limit of movement to the points relative to the needles, mechanism for giving said needles a variable vertical elevation relative to thereby variably controlling the final extent of elevation of said needles.

13. In a full fashion knitting machine, a row of knitting needles having point grooves longer than that required for plain knitting, a row of points cooperating with said needles and adapted to periodically engage in said grooves and mechanism for relatively operating said points and needles whereby the final extent ofelevation of the needles is selectively and variably controlled and thereby the final distance of travel of said points in said needle grooves selectively and variably regulated and a manually controlled device for controlling the action of said mechanism to variably control the elevating of said needles.

14. In a full fashion knitting machine, a row of knitting needles having point grooves that are longer than that required for plain knitting, a row of points coacting with said needles for movement in said grooves, mechanism for ele-' vating said needles to their normal elevation in contact with said points for forming plain loops and elevating said needles to an abnormal higher elevation in engagement with said points for forming spread loops and means cooperating with said points and said needles when in their abnormal position to extend the spread loops from one wale of the fabric into an adjacent wale of a fabric. I

15. In a knitting machine for producing run proof fabric, the combination of a row of needles having point grooves that are longer than that required for plain knitting, a row of points cooperating with said needles for movements in said point grooves, and mechanism for causing either the normal sliding contact between said points and the walls of the grooves in said needles for producing plain knit fabric or for increasingthe extent of travel of said sliding contact between the points and needles for producing greater relative movements therebetweenfor the knitting o spread loops.

16. In a full fashion knitting machine, a needle bar having thereon a row of needles provided with point grooves that are longer than that required for plain knitting, sinkers and dividers associated with said needles; means to operate said needles, sinkers and dividers; a row of locking 'points paralleling said row of needles and adapted tohave relative movements in the grooves-of said needles; and means for manipulatingsaid point bar.

1'7. In a full fashionknitting machine, a needle bar having thereon a row of needles provided with point grooves that are longer than that required for plain knitting, sinkers and dividers associated with said needles; means to operate said needles, sinkers and dividelfi a row of looking points paralleling said row of needles and bar having thereon a row of needles provided with point grooves that are longer than required for plain knitting, sinkers and dividers associated with said needles; means to operate said needles, sinkers and dividers; a row of locking points paralleling said row of needles and adapted to have, selective movements in the grooves of said needles; and means for manipulating said needles to selectively and variably control the final ex:- tent of elevation of the needles and thereby the final distance of travel of the points in said point grooves, and means including a rotary wheel, a cam follower for engaging with said wheel, a bar supporting said row of points and a connection between said follower and said ba'r, said wheel being formed of different cam surfaces to thereby make it possible to vary the form of the surfaces engaging said follower. I

19. In a full fashion knitting machine, a row of knitting needles having point grooves longer than that-required for plain knitting, a row of points cooperating with said needles and adapted to periodically engage in said grooves, mechanism for manipulating said points, mechanism for ma nipulating said needles and means cooperating with said second mechanism to selectively control the final extent of elevationof the needles and thereby the final distance of travel of the points insaid grooves, said means including a pair of cams capable of elevating the needles dif- .,ferent heights and a manually controlleddevice for selectively controlling the operativeness of either cam on said second mechanism.

20. In a full fashioned knitting machine, a needle bar having thereon a row of needles provided with point grooves that are longer than that required for plain knitting, sinkers and dividers associated with said needles; means to operate said needles, sinkers and dividers; a row of locking points paralleling said row of needles and adapted to have relative movements in the grooves of said needles to coaot with loops on selected needles; and means for manipulating said needles to selectively elevate the needles to different heights, and thereby vary the final distance of travel of the points in said point grooves, for the production of plain knit and special loop fabrics, respectively, said means'including a rotary pattern wheel provided with two sets of cam surfaces, respectively determining the different heights to which the needles are elevated, a cam follower selectively cooperating with'said surfaces, a bar supportingsaid row of points and a connection between said follower and said point bar.

GUSTAV GASTRICH. 

